Reign

  • Dates
    2018 - 2018
  • Author
  • Topics Social Issues, Contemporary Issues, Documentary
  • Location Wisconsin, United States

Race is a contentious issue in the U.S. and this story about a family African American women is expected to be controversial. The focus of REIGN is to tell a young woman's story about overcoming the challenges of being a young mother and person of color living in the U.S.

LaShawnda and I met while working together at a youth organization in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She’s a young single mother and her daughter, Reign, is a mischievous and independent child with an enormous personality. Reign’s affection doesn’t come easy, however she took a liking to me almost immediately and in short time I was accepted as a member of the family. LaShawnda’s top priority in life is to provide Reign with the best childhood and future she can. LaShawnda’s own childhood was one marked by great challenges. She and her sister grew up living with an aunt whose addictions, faith, and abusive partners dictated the quality of their lives. The girls frequently started one year living in a traphouse on Milwaukee’s north side and later moved northward to Green Bay, Wisconsin. By the beginning of the next year, the girls were living in Milwaukee once again and the cycle repeated. LaShawnda matured quickly in that environment and has now become a mother-figure to two younger sisters and two cousins.

One of LaShawnda’s greatest barriers in providing for Reign is her own health. She suffers from migraine headaches, depression and severe asthma. Despite the challenges in managing her health she finds the strength to work several jobs to eliminate her debts and will soon attend a university with plans to become a legislator to help at-risk youth and those in poverty.

© Jason Houge - LaShawnda; Green Bay, Wisconsin
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LaShawnda; Green Bay, Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - LaShawnda visits her mother and sisters at their home in north Milwaukee; Milwaukee Wisconsin
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LaShawnda visits her mother and sisters at their home in north Milwaukee; Milwaukee Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - Reign playing with her aunties, Tyroniccia and Tyrianna; Green Bay, Wisconsin
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Reign playing with her aunties, Tyroniccia and Tyrianna; Green Bay, Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - Surrounded by family, LaShawnda's Mother, Jacqueline, braids JuJu's hair; Milwaukee Wisconsin
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Surrounded by family, LaShawnda's Mother, Jacqueline, braids JuJu's hair; Milwaukee Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - JuJu; Milwaukee Wisconsin
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JuJu; Milwaukee Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - LaShawnda suffers from depression and migraine headaches; Green Bay Wisconsin
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LaShawnda suffers from depression and migraine headaches; Green Bay Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - Fried noodles; Green Bay Wisconsin
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Fried noodles; Green Bay Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - 9:00 am pickup to bring Reign to day care; Green Bay Wisconsin
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9:00 am pickup to bring Reign to day care; Green Bay Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - Late night ER visit for the flu; Green Bay Wisconsin
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Late night ER visit for the flu; Green Bay Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - University Avenue Market; Green Bay Wisconsin
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University Avenue Market; Green Bay Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - I love you, Mommy Green Bay Wisconsin
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I love you, Mommy Green Bay Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - Family Photo in Milwaukee; Milwaukee Wisconsin
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Family Photo in Milwaukee; Milwaukee Wisconsin

© Jason Houge - Reign; Green Bay Wisconsin
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Reign; Green Bay Wisconsin

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